O Scale GP9b...

I kind of forgot all about these units!  I also think it would be cool to have a couple of them in Pennsy or Penn Central.  I don't know how popular they would be due to the high price factor of dummy units (along with them being "odd-balls".

 

Thanks for the memories Steven!

Rich 

They don't have to be dummies.   They could be powered units running with other powered units.    All except one of my many diesels are powered and run as sets (consists).

 

It might be easier for a basement manufacturer to make a conversion kit to use with the old intermountain or the new Atlas O GP-9s.    The market might better support a small run of that type.

 

I have seen other kitbashes liike the one above.

Lionel made the GP9 B unit about 15 years ago, but it was on a somewhat improved postwar-style body. They were dummy units. You could buy an upgrade kit to add TMCC-controlled couplers. The postwar body is pretty close to scale size, but it lacks detail. If I recall correctly, the early TMCC units did have add-on grab irons rather than molded-in ones like the postwar originals.

 

Few GP9 B units were made. The UP and the Pennsy were the only railroads I know of that had them. Lionel added a few more roads, including the Milwaukee and NYC. 

You could probably modify the handrails with Atlas parts.  Nice project.

Santa Fe also had a couple B units but I don't think they were bought as B units. I think they were either wrecked or modified for a specific reason. Have to check my library. I would love 1 or 2, but that cab has to be scratch built. Excellent job for the styrene masters Brother Love or Alan G  

Why don't you keep trying? This is a straightforward shape, and I don't see needing a computer/3D printer to make it.

 

Hone your skills. Be independent when possible. If I can do this stuff, so can you.

Actually, the Santa Fe was the first to buy factory built GP booster units.  2788A through 2792A were late model GP7B's, and were used mostly in Texas.  A few months later, Union Pacific bought GP9B's starting with 130B.  I was lucky enough to have a cab ride in 1954, aboard UP 131-131B-132B-132.

 

Steven Michael, you could approach Atlas about making GP7B and GP9B units.  It would be fairly simple for them, as it would only require the creation of a hood part with portholes, to insert between the front and rear hoods instead of inserting the cab casting.  This is a good opportunity for you to do something for the greater good of the hobby.  Atlas could probably sell a decent number of GP9B's, but not repetitively.  Union Pacific and PRR both have a large following, and any hood unit manufactured in Santa Fe zebra stripes sells quickly.

Well there ya go.... didn't have to look it up, just ask the old head

 

I would really like to see Atlas do it, so I can get some matching Zebras for my current trio. Like you said Tom, it would be very easy for them to do.

Atlas Model GP7. 

The Atlas model also had the dynamic brake blister as a seperate part.  Front right in picture is the hood without the dynamic brake.

 Edit/Add:  Smaller exhaust fans pictured are 3 scale ft. Dynamic brake exhaust fan is 4 scale ft.  Atlas also did GP 9 models.

Keep in mind the Prr gp9 b's were phase  lll and had 3 48" fans on the roof with no lit number boards. I am working on two right now but I have tissues and issues with cutting out the cab doors.

I vaguely remember that Des Plaines hobbies in Chicago may have made a kit to convert Intermountain GP9s to GP9Bs.     The Atlas GP9 body is made with the intermountain molds, Atlas bought the Intermountain O scale line.

Use the Atlas non-dynamic brake blister as the roof portion of the cabless B and build the rest from styrene - or chop out the section from a Lionel GP9B.

I have several of those Lionel GP B units. Here's some photos of the Milw. Rd. This one has diecast trucks, diecast fuel tank, and diecast pilots. With the added Lionel kit it also has command control, directional lighting, and electrocouplers. Interesting and fun to run behind a Geep.

Thanks Breezinup, you saved me the trouble of photographing and posting mine (also Milwaukee Road, of course!)

Found a Lionel Undecorated B Unit Shell & painted it.

 

TMCC & Railsounds 2.5 installed.  Just an unpowered sound unit.

 

The real ARR 1805 was scrapped after a derailment while on a Snowfleet Run.